Using Action Learning Principles to Improve Student's Progress in Developing Numeracy Skills

Using Action Learning Principles to Inform and Improve Students' Progress in Developing Numeracy Skills is a research grant funded by the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) under its Innovative Projects Initiative. DEST has provided a $40,000 research grant for this study as to develop a methodology for improving national numeracy capability through targeted teacher support and training programmes

Beth Powell and Karen Murcia of the School of Education were awarded the grant after two rounds of national competitive selection.

The project operated at Waikiki Primary School in the low socio-economic area of Peel. The project used Action Learning principles to identify and develop strategies to improve the numeracy performance of students at risk of not progressing and identified by the participating school as below national benchmarks.

The Action Research Team, comprising Beth Powell and Karen Murcia, as well as the teaching staff at Waikiki Primary School investigated strategies to foster school/parent/community partnerships in the development of student numeracy including:

1. Identification of innovative teaching strategies to support the numeracy development of students “at risk”

2. Development of an assessment process to identify and measure student numeracy.

The following outcomes were achieved:

•  The development of strategies for improving the numeracy performance of students at risk of not progressing and identified by the school as below national benchmarks or at risk of not progressing;

•  Formulation of school-based identification strategies for encouraging parental involvement in the school;

•  Development and implementation of both qualitative and quantitatives measures of numeracy through test design, implementation and analysis;

•  Promotion what is meant by numeracy to students, teachers and parents;

•  Design and publication of a Numeracy Information Booklet for parents.

Final Report available for download from Department of Education, Science and Training. Click here